I have listened to this song many a times, and for a change I knew which movie this song is from. The fact that the title of the movie appears in the song has certainly helped there.

Now I have managed to see the movie as well, and I realised that “barsaat ki raat” is not just a collection of great songs at every opportunity, rather it is a very well made movie with a gripping storyline and the songs appear at the most appropriate moments in the movie, and none of the songs appears out of place in the context in the movie.

The Hero, Bharat Bhooshan goes to Akashwani Hyderbad trying to get a singing assignments.The station manager wants him to create some new songs and present them. Bharat Bhooshan goes to the city looking for inspiration. Suddenly it rains and he tries to take shelter. Madhubala too is looking for shelter. She is badly drenched, with her cloth sticking against her body.She tries to squueze out water from her palloo. Unknowingly she touches Bhatrat Bhooshan which expecting a lamp post there instead. That startles her and she moves away.

That is the inspiration Bharat Bhooshan was looking for. He composes the song “zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi wo barsaat ki raat” which was broadcast on Akashwani Hyderabad. Madhubala listens to the song on her radio, and by the end of the song, realises that the song was written about her and that she had stumble upon Bharat Bhooshan on that rainy night.

It is a beautiful situation for the hero and heroine to find themselves in. The song has become as iconic as any. Madhubala soaked wet in her sari which clings to her body is a sight for the gods. Of course that scene is before the song and not part of the song.

It is an absolutely wonderful song, but then I need not tell anyone so. Everyone already knows that.

It is an absolutely wonderful song. And if you can put yourself in the shoes of the character, then one can experience the feelings contained in the song even better. The creators of this song have created an absolute masterclass in the form of this song.

Song- Zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi wo barsaat ki raat (Barsaat ki raat) (1960) Singer- Rafi, Lyrics-Sahir Ludhianvi, MD- Roshan

Lyrics

zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi wo barsaat ki raat
ek anjaan haseenaa se mulaakaat ki raat
zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi …

haay wo reshmi zulfon se barastaa paani
haay wo reshmi zulfon se barastaa paani
phool se gaalon pe rukne ko tarastaa paani
dil mein toofaan uthaate huye
dil mein toofaan uthaate huye jazbaat ki raat
zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi …

dar ke bijli se achaanak wo lipatnaa uskaa
aur phir sharm se balkhaake simatnaa uskaa
kabhi dekhi na suni aisi ho
kabhi dekhi na suni aisi tilismaat ki raat
zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi …

surkh aanchal ko dabaakar jo nichodaa usne
surkh aanchal ko dabaakar jo nichodaa usne
dil pe jaltaa huaa ek teer saa chhodaa usne
aag paani mein lagaate huye
aag paani mein lagaate huye haalaat ki raat
zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi …

mere naghmon mein jo basti hai wo tasveer thi wo
naujawaani ke haseen khwaab ki taabir thi wo
aasmanon se utar aayi ho
aasmanon se utar aayi thi jo raat ki raat
zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi wo barsaat ki raat
zindagi bhar nahin bhoolegi …